Okay, the post I was going to do today fell through. File it under: “Shit happens.” So now it’s time to improvise because I have to go out and do something or this post will be as blank as Richard Hell’s generation. One thing I haven’t done yet this summer is go down and visit the food carts. So that’s what we’ll do for today’s post. See how easy this can be? It makes me feel just like Marshall Crenshaw!
Okay, we’re here in downtown Peoria and I’ve successfully parallel-parked the MBIP mobile. A feat which I’m always proud of, because after not driving for 19 years, it took me a while to master this act of parking again.
I thought to make things a little exciting, we’d time how long it takes to hit every food cart down here today. Alright, there’s 63 minutes on the meter...go, speed racer, go!
And we’re off to the first cart right down the street here.
It’s the Manna Food cart, let’s take a look at the menu...
Check out the James Shin special, it looks interesting and I think I’ll try it in spite of the dreaded triple exclamation point at the end of it. See what you started, PJ?
This woman behind the cart told me no pictures, but hey, you want to mess around with exclamation points willy nilly like that and your picture will be taken. It’s just the rules, maam! Or should I say: "it’s just the rules, maam!!!" I can’t believe I just did that. Okay, let’s just move on.
Here’s a cart from Thanh Linh, a Vietnamese restaurant on Main Street. I’m looking forward to stopping there on our Main Street eating tour. I want to try the Pho soup there.
They don’t have the Pho soup at the cart, but this pretty woman was happy to pose and give us a nice smile.
Haddad’s...I remember them from last year...
Somebody tapped me on the shoulder and it’s non other than MBIP pal, Steve Tarter. We talked for a little bit, then I told him I was on the clock and had to run. Later that evening I found out he put up a post about our meeting and the MBIP blog on his Minding Business blog that he writes for the PJ Star, check it out here. Thanks, Steve!
Okay, back to the business of getting food and yet another memory from last year, I took his picture back then and I’m doing it again right now. Deja view!
TJ was manning the grill and posed for the MBIP camera.
Check out the hot sauces here...
And not a bottle of Frank’s to be found! How refreshing!
The Peking cart, another memory from last year!
Check it out, I’m not the only asshole out here taking pictures!
I took her photo last year and she remembered me. Reunited and it feels so good!
This is where Willie’s cart is usually parked, but it’s not here today. Someone told me they were on vacation. Oh well, just a good excuse to come back before the season is over.
And I couldn’t resist getting some dessert at a non food cart place. Debbie Jackson the owner is on vacation and her daughter was running the store and was a little camera shy, so no inside shots today. Okay, let’s go back to the meter and see how we did.
We did it all in 29 minutes! Not too shabby, if I do say so myself and I just did, so there. Okay, let’s take all the food back to the MBIP Headquarters tasting area and have some lunch.
Okay, through the magic of the interwebs, here we are, time to start unwrapping and sampling our goodies from the food carts.
This is a steak taco I got from the Tequilas cart...
It’s a little on the bland side and I like cheddar cheese on my tacos and they used some sort of white cheese, which has no taste. Let’s move on...
I got two chicken egg rolls from the Thanh Linh cart.
They were okay, but I should’ve gotten some Chinese mustard for them. That’s what happens when you’re in a hurry!
Wow! Check out the James Shin special from Manna Foods! This thing is stuffed with beef and chicken. Almost worthy of a triple PJ exclamation point...but naaahh, that’s not going to happen.
Okay, this is really tasty and there’s enough food here for dinner and lunch tomorrow. And is it me or if you look sideways, does this piece of beef look kind of like a little monster? So far this is the highlight of the lunch. Let’s see if it gets any better.
I got Crab Rangoon from the Peking cart, let’s try them out.
Very delicious, things are getting better as we go along.
Here’s a hot dog from Haddads topped with some spicy mustard. I ran out of the Cleveland Kathy mustard a while back, but this was a present from my sister Terry for my birthday a few months ago.
Haddad’s always has great food and this hot dog is no exception and the mustard is fantastic, Thanks, Terry!
And now, as Paul Anka once wrote and Frank sang, the end is near...
I got the malted milk balls from The Nut House. Okay, now it’s time for some Tums! We’ll see you all tomorrow!
Related Post: Lunch Cart A-Go-Go With The Olive Loafers.
I belong to the blank generation and...
I can take it or leave it each time.
Surprise link, click on it...I dare you!
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